Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

to teach agents going through the Academy the basics of not getting killed in hand-to-hand combat. By the time Ty had gone through, Tanner was old enough and grouchy enough that he didn't teach classes anymore; he merely picked protégés to run the lessons and supervised them.
    Zane smiled slightly and nodded. “I needed the help,” he said. “Remember me telling you about having to repeat? Yeah. Jack's the reason I didn't wash out the second time through."
    "I didn't know he did one-on-one lessons,” Ty remarked with a small smirk.
    "Only for special cases,” Zane said. “That, and Becky was a really good cook."
    Ty nodded and looked away uncomfortably. “Jack was always a sucker for a good ribeye,” he muttered.
    Zane tipped his head. “Another story there?” he asked.
    "There's always another story somewhere,” Ty answered vaguely.
    "Like why you want it to end quick,” Zane said, deciding he'd pushed enough. He already knew more about Ty's past than Ty knew about his. He supposed he was lucky in that respect. Sighing, he rubbed his eyes. “Going numb and then going to sleep,” he agreed finally. “I guess that appeals to a lot of people in our line of work. We're more likely to be beaten up, shot, knifed, blown up, hit by a car, tortured...."
    Ty merely nodded distantly, his head slightly turned as he stared out the window.
    "Why'd you take this job?” Zane asked curiously. “After they ran you out of Recon? Why not tell the government to take a flying leap and buy a coal mine?"
    Ty scratched his chin and cocked his head. “'Cause I was afraid of the coal mines,” he answered curtly.
    "I knew you were a smart man,” Zane said.
    "Doesn't take a smart man to be afraid of the coal mines,” Ty responded seriously.
    "What does it take? For you to be afraid?"
    Ty turned his head quickly and frowned at Zane. “You don't think I'm afraid?” he asked.
    "If you aren't, then you're way beyond fixing,” Zane claimed. “I want to know what makes you afraid. I've seen it, a few times, in your eyes. On your face. But I couldn't figure out why. Not really."
    Ty shrugged and looked away before Zane could see anything else in his eyes. “I don't know,” he answered defensively. “Normal things, I guess."
    "Ty,” Zane said quietly, seeing the evasion for what it was.
    "What?” Ty huffed.
    Zane sighed and shook his head, but he had to laugh just a tiny bit. “I don't think I have ever met someone as stubborn as you."
    "Shut up,” Ty said uncomfortably.
    "It's not an insult. Hell.” Zane sighed and leaned back against the headboard. He watched Ty for a long minute. The man looked antsy and unable to settle. On edge. “Ty, chill."
    "You woke me up,” Ty said accusingly. “Why do you want to know? What does it matter what I'm afraid of?” he asked, obviously unable to let the conversation go.
    Zane blinked in surprise. “It matters to me,” he said quietly. “I want to know. So I...” His voice trailed off and he swallowed. “So I can protect you."
    Ty sniffed. “Protect me from being afraid?"
    "Protect you when you're afraid,” Zane corrected.
    Ty muttered quietly to himself and shook his head. “Okay,” he finally ground out. “You want to know what I'm afraid of?” he asked as he turned his head slightly and looked back at Zane. “I'm afraid of small spaces,” he said as he raised his hand and began counting off with his fingers. “I'm afraid of small, dark spaces. I'm afraid of small, dark spaces with bugs and/or rodents in them. And I'm afraid of falling when my ass isn't attached to a parachute. Satisfied?” he asked sarcastically.
    Zane refused to be baited. “Thanks,” he said simply, just watching Ty, wondering what was making him so cranky. He'd tried picking a fight; he'd tried reasoning with him. But Ty was still tense, unwilling or unable to just let the frustration go and shout at him. “Do I still make you that uncomfortable?” he asked, sounding forlorn. “After all we've done?"
    Ty closed his eyes and raised his chin slightly, sighing quietly. “A little,” he admitted. “I'm not used to answering questions, okay?” he explained defensively. “I just ... it's just weird for me."
    Zane nodded from where he leaned against the headboard, and a bit of his own tension seeped away. “Come here,” he requested, reaching out an arm.
    Ty glanced over at him to see if he was making light. When he didn't see any signs of joking he narrowed his eyes slightly. “Fuck